Gauge



Aug; 18, 1936. H, C, ZENKE 2,051,357

` GAUGE Filed Sept, 14, 1952 m., Hill im" IH H h2 llh| UW HM M i f el NHL

IN ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

My inventio-n relates to gauges and I have designed it more particularly for gauging stereotype plates, electrotype plates, zinc plates, curvedl or flat, jackets and shell casts, all used in the art of printing, and I will describe the invention as so embodied without, however, intending to limit its use to any particular field.

Heretofore, it has been difficult to measure stereotype plates, Zinc plates and the like, especially when they are curved to correspond with the circumference of the printing cylinder of a printing press because such gauges as were available were not accurate in their operation. Such gauges as are available, if of the portable or micrometer type, either have not enough reach to measure portions of the plate other than the edge, or, if built for larger reach, they are inaccurate or unreliable, because the deflection of the body of the gauge cannot be kept uniform by the person measuring. The reading depends to a large extent on the feel of this person. If the gauges be of the type that employs convex saddles to support the plate, they are heavy, and therefore stationary; moreover they are suitable only for plates that have a curvature to t the saddle. Besides, the contact area of a saddle is large and a possible deflection in the plate may lead to faulty measuring of the thickness thereof.

In order to obtain correct readings of the thickness of plates measured, it is important that the axis of the dial indicator be at right angles to the surface of the plate. In the present case there are provisions made to have the gauge align itself automatically so that the indicator axis is maintained exactly at right angles with the surface of the plate.

The present gauge embodies a frame or yoke which straddles the plate to be measured, from one side, it being made in the shape of a U, and the arms of this frame are of suicient length to permit the anvil to extend anywhere from one side edge of the plate to the middle thereof so that by reversing the gauge and applying it first to one side of the plate and then to the other, all portions of the plate may be reached by the gauge for determining the thickness of any portion of it.

The present device is simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and there are no delicate parts 5o to become inoperative. The gauge will indicate differences in thickness of plates within one-half of one one-thousandth of an inch, which is sufficient for all practical purposes in the printing art.

I have provided means for pressing against the periphery of the plate in opposition to the anvil and this pressure as represented by action of said means causes a slight deflection of the frame. This deflection, which is caused by preloading, is by adjustment of the device eliminated 5 from the reading on the dial so that the gauging of the thickness of the plate is Vnot rendered inaccurate.

Other features and advantages will be set forth in the following detailed description of my invenl0 tion,

In the drawing forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gauge embodying my invention in the preferred form,

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof, showing the gauge applied to a curved printing plate or stereotype plate ready for gauging the thickness thereof,

Figure 3 is an elevation of a portion of the 20 gauge applied to a plate, portions being broken away to show the interior, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the center of the gauge showing portions of the lower arm.

In the drawing I have shown a frame of U shape, comprising a long bar or leg l forming one portion of the U and which is the member that will lie inside or under the plate which is to be gauged, and this arm carries the anvil as will be hereinafter described. l

At 2 the frame is curved or looped, and from this curved portion extends the second or upper arm 3 of the frame which is shown as extending parallel to the lower arm I and spaced from it to provide a space 4 between the arms into which the side of a plate may extend more or less according to the position of the anvil in relation to the plate at the time the gauging operation is to take place. Preferably, the inner portions of both arms and the loop member of the frame are reinforced by means of the flange 5 extending around these members to stiffen the same and thereby prevent any excessive bending action of the frame. I have also shown aV stiiening rib 6 45 extending from this flange towards the edge of the loop portion 2 of the frame.

The anvil which is to make contact with the inner or under side of a plate is shown as a block 'l which projects into a recess 8 formedat the 50 outer end of the arm l of the frame, so that the upper portion of the anvilpro-jects above the plane of the arm l as shown in the several figures.

The anvil is preferably made adjustable and for this purpose I have shown two adjustable screws 9 which are threaded into apertures in the under side of the arm to form abutments Vfor opposite ends of the anvil.

wise truing it and for Calibrating to allow for de- Y iiection of the frame as will be set forth. The

Y screws IU may be slacked off slightly whenever the stop screws 9 are to be adjusted and when the position of the anvil is accurately adjusted VVthe screws I may be again tightened'to hold the anvil in xed position in relation to the frame. YThe anvil is disposed inline with the arm of the frame and it preferably has at least two contact portions `I2 raised above the intermediate portion. I3. The top surfaces I4 of the contact members I2 of theanvil are preferably arched as shown in Figure `2, but -on a radius .which is slightly smaller than the radius of the inner surface of the smallest plates which are to be gauged, in order that the contact between the portions I2 of theanvil will be a line'contact rather than a broad contact. Y

The upper arm 3 of the frame is shown as provided with an upstanding and iixed handle mem- `ber I5 by means of which the gauge may be grasped for handling and also to co-operate with a movablehandle. The latter is shown at I6 in such relation to the stationary handle I5 that both may be grasped in one hand for a purpose Y which will be hereinafter set forth.

The handle I6 is fixed to or integral with the yoke Il which straddles the Ybracket I8 extending forwardly of the frame arm 3; and'this yoke is pivotally mountedon the bracket by means of a stud or shaft I9 passing through the bracket and through the opposite arms of the yoke;

' From the yoke there extend forwardly two par- Y allel arms which are fixed to or integral with Ythe arm 3v of the frame, in which is housed a spring plunger 24 which is adapted to slide longitudinally in this bore. One end of the plunger travels in a small or sub bore 28 which acts as a guide for one end of the plunger, whereas the other end of the plunger has an enlarged head which is guided in the bore 23. Within this latter Vbore and coiled about the plunger there is a spring Y2'I which presses at one end against the shoulder 29 and at the other end against the head 25 of the plunger, so that this spring nor-Y mallyV presses the plunger toward the left in'Figure 3 and when the plate is gripped between the YanvilV and the members 22 by the pressure of the spring 2 acting on the lever I6, 20 the, device is self-supporting upon theplate. Y

On the end of the plunger which projects beyond the bore 23 there is an anti-friction roller -26'mounted to engage one side ofthe movable handle I6 so that the spring plunger normally presses the movable handle and causes it to swing on its pivot I9 away from the fixed handle I5.

I have shown the bracket or arm 3| integral with the fixed bracket I8 and extending forwardly over the anvil. On the outer or free end of this bracket 3| there is mounted a micrometer 33 of any approved type, and as micrometers of this character are available on the market and are well known in the art, I have shown only the exterior parts thereof.

The micrometer has the usual dials 34 with suitable hands 35 cci-operating therewith to give a rea-ding of measurements Within minute subdivisions of an inch. This micrometer is of the type wherein both hands are revolved during a reading, one making a multiple of turns to each turn of the other to provide for very ne readings on one dial after an approximate or coarser reading on the dial associated with the slower moving hands.

There is a vertically moving rod 36 passing through the casing of the micrometer and associated with and operating the several hands 35, and on the lower' end of this rod there is a head 36 which is adapted to be move-d into contact with the top surface or type of the plate 3I to c0- operate with the anvil below for Ythe purpose of gauging the thickness of the plate. The surface of ,the head 36 which contacts with the plate isk Y the measurements will be made on the face of the type.

TheV micrometer is mounted to revolve in relation to the arm 3| in order that it may be turned to permit the dial `to be read from any angle. For this purpose there is a stud 50 projectingV from the lower side of the casing of the micrometer and this has a bore through which the rod 36 passes. The stud 50 may revolve in the socket in the arm 3| and the micrometer can therefore be turned around with the stud to face in any Y direction for reading.

To insure correct gauging there must be firm contact between the gauge members and the plate. The spring 2'I is designed to produce nearly uniform pressure of the members 2| upon the plate so that the deflection of the frame is held within small limits of variation so that the accuracy of the gauge vis within that of practical requirements.

Preferably, the pressure created by the of the spring 2'I upon the members 2| and the opposing action of the anvil is sufficient to cause the gauge to clamp upon the material with a sufficient grip to cause the gauge to be held upon th article being gauged. Y

At the same time Vthis pressure is suicient action Y to cause the gauge to be aligned so that the indi- Y cator arm moves at right angles to the surface of the material which is being gauged. The pressure of the rod of the indicator upon the surface of the member which isto be engaged is so light as to be negligible as far as causing deflection of the gauge.

Notwithstanding the rigid character of the frame, there will be a slight deflection caused by the'opposing pressures of the membersV 2| acting on the top surface of the plate being gauged and by the opposing action of the anvil below. The

deflection will depend partly on the rigidity of the'frame and partly on the strength of the spring 21. The deflection in the gauges made by me is a matter of a. few thousandths of an inch, but in order to render the gauging action accurate, I have provided for preloading the gauge and I then adjust the device to prevent the deflection 'of the frame caused by the preloading from affecting the reading of the thickness of the plate.

In order to calibrate the device to allow for the deflection referred to, andV to permit the micrometer to register the actual thickness of the plates, I proceed as follows:

While the gauge is removed from any plate, the handle I6 is released so that the arms 20 swing downwardly under the action of the spring 21 and the pressure members 2| then press downwardly on the top surfaces of the members 5I. The gauge is now preloaded so that the tendency of the two parallel arms of the frame to move apart under the action of the spring 21 causes a slight deflection of the frame. If the rod 36 is allowed to rest on the top surface of the anvil member I2, the pointers of the dial will be affected by the deflection of the frame. While the rodv 36 is pressing on the top of the anvil, the position of the latter in its socket 8 will be adjusted to counteract the preloading as follows:

The screws I6 will be slacked off to permit the anvil to be adjusted and then the positioning screws 9 will be turned to the right or left in order to raise or lower the anvil, and this will change the position of the rod 36 since the latter is resting on the anvil. The anvil will be adjusted in its vertical position until the pointers on the micrometer register zero; and when that occurs the screws I0 will be tightened to retain the anvil in its adjusted position. While this adjustment is being made, the pressure members 2| are pressing against the co-operating pressure members 5| which are carried on the frame, or in other words, the adjustment is made while the frame is preloaded.

The two members 5I are secured by the bolts 52 to the lower arm of the frame. The top surfaces of these pressure members are shown as curved or arched in Figure 2 and lying on opposite sides of the anvil.

When the lever arms 20 are pressed downwardly by the spring 21 and there is no plate in -position for gauging the upper pressure members 2| rest upon the top surfaces of the lower members 5I and preload the frame as above stated. The top surfaces of the lower member 5| lie slightly below the top surface of the portions I2 of the anvil so that when the under side of the plate Arests on the anvil it will not make contact with the lower members 5 I. Where the material being gauged is very thin and bendable it may be deflected against the members 5|.

When the frame has been preloaded in the manner described, and the anvil has been adjusted so that when the rod 36 rests on the top surface of the anvil with the dials of the micrometer at zero, allowance will have been madev for therdeflection of the frame caused by the action of the spring 21. Thereafter the reading of the micrometer will indicate the actual thickness of the plate, the deection of the frame having been allowed for by the above adjustment of the anvil.

Operation.

ln Figures 2 andf3 I have shown a portion of a curvedstereotype plate 31 with the gauge in position for determining the thickness of the plate. The plate shown herein being gauged is arched in order to conform with the periphery of the plate cylinder of a printing press. It will be noted that the under side of the plate, instead of being a smooth surface is provided with raised ribs 38 extending at right angles to the axis of the plate, as shown in the drawing.

The bottoms or under surfaces of these reinforcing ribs are the portions of the plate which rest directly against the periphery of the plate cylinder of the press and it is therefore necessary in gauging the thickness of the plate to determine the thickness at places which will include the reinforcing ribs. For this reason the anvil is made long enough tol rest on at least two of these reinforcing ribs as shownin Figure 3. Assuming that the anvil has been properly adjusted in its socket 8 by means of the abutment screws 9 and that the anvil has been secured firmly in place by the screws I0, and that the adjustment of the anvil has been made to allow for deflection of the frame, the operation of the device will be as follows: Y

Normally, the movable handle I6 is swung over in the position shown in Figure 3 by the action of the spring plunger, so that the pressure members 2| extend downwardly with their peripheries on a line with or slightly below the top surfaces of the contact members I2 of the anvil. To place the gauge on a portion of the plate to be gauged, the operator grasps the handles I5, I6 and squeezes them so that the movable handle is moved toward the stationary handle. This will rock the movable handle on its pivot I9 in opposition to the spring plunger, so that the yoke I1 will move and the arms 26 will be lifted or swung upwardly to move the pressure members 2| above the plane of the contact members I2 of the anvil a suiicient distance to allow the gauge to be presented over one side of the plate 31, with the anvil moving under the plate and the pressure members 2| moving over the top thereof.

The gauge may be inserted so that the anvil makes contact at any position between one side of the plate and the median line thereof, the arms of the yoke of the frame being sufficiently long to allow the anvil to be moved from the side of the plate to or beyond the median line thereof. As soon as the anvil has passed under the plate and the pressure members 2| lie over the top of the plate, the operator may release his grip on the movable handle so that the spring plunger will act to rock the movable handle I6 away from the stationary handle. This will rock the yoke I1 upon the pivot I9 and the arms 20, moving with it, will press the members 2| down against the top or type surface of the plate. The pressure members 2| are therefore resistibly pressed against the type surface of the plate which is the outer or peripheral portion thereof, while the anvil presses against the under or bottom side of the plate.

If the gauge is held at right angles to the side edge of the plate, the contact members I2 of the anvil will make contact with the under side of the plate on a line which is parallel with the axis of the plate. When the gauge is positioned at the particular place where the thickness is to be determined the operator will press the rod 36 of the indicator downwardly as shown in Figure 3, until the head of the rod comes into contact with the type surface of the top orv periphery Yof the plate. The rod 36 is normallyr pressed upwardly by a spring within the indicator, Ykeeping the hand at the starting or zero position.

'I'he portion of the plate lying betweeny the anviland theY surface of the head of the rod will rsi ' be gauged to determine thin or thick spots at any thus be-gauged and the measurement ofthe thickness of this portion of the plate will be determined by reading the hands and dials of the indicator. v

The deflection of the frame having been allowed` for by the adjustment of the anvil, the dial reading will indicate theV actual thickness of the plate. l

The anvil will not be affected and the reading maderinaccurate by such very slight local imperfections on the under side of the plate as will not be capable of affecting the position of the plate on the cylinder. Y The members 2| are pressed downwardly on the top of the plate and they hold the underside of the latter against the top sur face of the anvil while the Vreading of the thickness of the plate Vis being taken, so that the line contact will be along the center of the contact members I2 of the anvil and directly in line with the rod 36 so that the'reading will be an accurate indication of the thickness of the plate and will be unaffected by the curvature of the latter. The members 2| providefa broad contact on the top surface of the plate so that the gauge is held steady and accurate in relation to the plate. TheV line of contactV between the anvil and the plate is parallel with the axis of the plate, that is, parallel to the axis of acylinder of which the plate is a segment.

Y The deviceyif constructed as shown inv the drawing, provides a, four-point contact with the plate; that is to say, the two contact members I2 of the anvil form two of the contacts which are at the underside of the plate, whereas the two members 2| form the additional contacts at the upper side of the plate. The points of contact of the contact members of the anvil are in line crosswise ofthe plate but parallel with its axis, whereas the contacts made by the members 2| are laterally of or on opposite sides of those'of the anvil. Preferably, the members 2| are arranged asY shown in Figure 3 to make contact with the plate adjacent the rear contact member I2 of theanvil.

After various portions of the plate have been measured with the gauge, While the latter is extended in fro-m one side of the plate, the gauge may be turned around andV inserted from theopposite side of the plate and various portions along this half of theplate may be gauged.

If the gauge is to be shifted circumferentially on the plate, the movable handle may be operated to release the pressure of the members 2| Y on theplate and then the gauge may be shifted circumferentially of the plateto make additional readings. In this manner the entire plate may portion of the plate.

It will be apparent that while the present gaugeV is suitable for measuring curved plates of whatever character, it may likewise be used for flat plates without change, as the anvil and the pressure members'will engage the flat plate just as readily as a curved one. 'I'he present device may also be used in gauging the thickness of various portions of a jacket used on an impression cylinder aswell as for gauging other forms of plates.

The present device is self-aligning in its ac- Y tion; that is to say, the co-operative action of the members 2| pressingon the top of the plate,

' land the anvil making contact on a line with the under side of the plate,-the members2| being spaced laterally onfeach side of the contact line of the anvil, causes the anvil to lie parallel with the axis of the plate withoutany special attempt on the part of the operator to bringabout this alignment. The alignment of the anvil wlththe axis of the plate is necessary to avoid erroneous reading because if the anvil should Vlie at an angle to the axis of the plate it is obvious that the gauging of the thickness of the plate will be' erroneous. Y

The indicator may be grasped by the hand and turned around itsown axis within the bearing in the arm 3| in order to ,place the dial of the indicator at any anglefrom which the operator desires to read the position of the hands of the indicator. The term anvil is used herein in the broad sense to refer to any surface which may Imake contact with one side ofthe material to be l5 gauged.

Having described my invention, what I claim is: 1. In .a device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members for extending over and under the plate respectively,

one of said members'having a pocket to receive an anvil, an anvil disposed in said pocket, means for adjusting said anvil in said pocket, said anvil being formed to have an extended, narrow line contact with the concave surface of the plate,

and a movable member'carried by the other mem'- ber of said frame and having means engaging the convex surface of the plate opposite to said anvil, Y and an indicator cooperating .withrsaid' anvil to gauge the thickness of the plate.

2. In a device forV gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members for extending over'and under the plate respectively, an

Vanvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, said anvil having a plurality of contact surfaces, each formed to have an extended, narrow line contact with the concave surface of the plate, a movable member carried by the other member of said frame, a plurality of contact members carried by said movable member and engaging the convex surface of the plate opposite said anvil and on opposite sides of the plane of the line of contact of said anvil, and an indicator cooperating with said anvil to gauge the thickness of the plate. ,v Y

'3. In a device forgauging the thickness of curved plates, a U shaped frame having one arm longer thanthe other, an anvil mounted on the longer` arm of the frame and formed .to have an extended, narrow line contact with theconcave surface of the plate, a yoke pivoted to the shorter arm of said frame and having arms projecting forwardly over said anvil, contact members carried by said latterarms and arranged to contact withthe convex surface of the plate opposite Asaid anviland on opposite sides of the vertical plane of the line of engagement of said anvil with said plate, spring means for causing said contact members to move toward the plate, a fixed 60l 4.*In a device for gauging the thicknessof plates, a frame having members for engaging over'and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of a plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging onesurfaceof 7,5..

the plate, said anvilv having an extended narrow line contact with the surface of the plate, a movable member carried by the other member of said frame and having contact members for engaging the surface of the plate opposite to. that engaged by said anvil, contact members arranged below the contact plane of said anvil with which said first contact members engage when there is no plate between said anvil and said first contact mem ers, and an indicator co-operating with said anvil to gauge the thickness of the plate.

5. In a device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members for extending over and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of a plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, means for adjusting the height of said anvil, a movable member carried by the other member of said frame and having contact members for engaging the convex surface of said plate opposite said anvil, and contact members on the frame member which carries said anvil and disposed below the plane of contact of the anvil with the plate, said rst Contact members being adapted to engage said second contact members for preloading the frame, and an indicator co-operating with said anvil to gauge the thickness of the plate.

6. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members arranged to extend over and under a plate respectively, when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, a movable member carried by the other member of said frame, means for moving said movable member to cause the same to press on the convex side of the plate opposite to that engaged by said anvil and to render said device self-supporting on the plate, and an indicator arranged to engage the surface of the plate opposite to that engaged by said anvil when the plate is clamped between said movable member and said anvil.

7. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members arranged to extend over and under a plate respectively, when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, a pivotal member carried by the other member of said frame and having means adapted to contact with the convex surface of the plate opposite said anvil, means for rocking said pivotal member to cause the contact means to press on the surface of the plate and to render said device self-sup'- porting on the plate, and an indicator arranged to engage one surface of the plate when the plate is clamped between sai-d contact means and said anvil.

8. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members arranged to extend over and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, a pivotal member carried by the other member of said frame, spring means for rocking said pivotal member to cause the same to press on the convex side of said plate opposite said anvil, with sufficient force to maintain said device self-supporting on said plate, a handle member for rocking said pivotal member, and an indicator arranged to co-operate with said anvil to determine the thickness of the plate.

9. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having. members arranged to extend over and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, a pivotal member carried .by the other member of said frame and having means for pressing on the convex surface of the plate, and a spring for actuating said pivotal member and adapted to make said device self-supporting on said plate, co-operating handle members arranged respectively on one member of said frame and another handle member on said pivotal member, said handles being adapted to be operated by one hand to swing said pivotal member, and an indicator arranged to co-operate with said anvil to determine the thickness of the plate.

10. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members arranged'to extend over and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, a pivotal member carried by the other member of said frame and having means to press on the convex surface of the plate to render said device selfsupporting on said plate, a spring plunger arranged in said second mentioned frame member and acting on said pivotal member to press it into engagement with the convex surface of said plate, and an indicator mounted on said frame and arranged to co-operate with said anvil in gauging the thickness of the plate.

11. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members for extending over and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, said anvil having an extended narrow line contact with the surface of the plate, a movable-member carried by the other member of said frame and engaging the convex surface of the platey opposite'said anvil, means for pressing said movable member against the plate to render the device self-supporting on said plate, and an indicator co-operatirgtwith said anvil to gauge the thickness of the D 2. e.

l2. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members for extending over and under the plate respectively when applied to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, said anvil having an extended narrow line contact with the surface of the plate on a line parallel with the axis of the plate, a movable member carried by the other member of said frame, a plurality of contact members carried by said movable member and engaging the convex surface of the plate opposite said anvil and engaging said plate on opposite sides of the vertical plane of the line of contact of said anvil with the. plate, means for pressing said movable member toward said anvil with suflicient pressure to render said device selfsupporting on the plate, and an indicator co-operating with said anvil to gauge the thicknes of the plate.

13. In a portable hand device for gauging the thickness of curved plates, a frame having members extending over and under the plate respectively When presented to an edge of the plate, an anvil carried by one of said members for engaging the concave surface of the plate, said anvil having an extended narrow line Contact with the surface of the plate, a movable member carried by the other member of said frame, contact members mounted on said movable member and hav- ,5 ing rounded surfaces arranged to engage the convexV surface of said plate opposite said anvil,

means for pressing said movable member `towards Vsaid anvil to render the device self-sup-Y porting on said plate, and an indicator co-operating with said anvil to gauge the thickness of the plate.

HENRY C. ZENKE. 

